2021 trading, drafting and list management: players and personnel

[Nico]

Interesting to see that McKay signed a 2 year deal. There has been talk that the salary cap issues caused by the Covid era are uncertain, and 2 years is the best way to deal with this. I can't see any team wanting to take over the Kelly and Grundy contracts.

[Ludwig]

You have to make those high priced signings work out at least 80% for it to be worth their while. Look at Carlton and St. Kilda. They overpaid for so many players and have nothing to show for it except a bloated player payroll. Collingwood is a case that took down a team many thought were premiership contenders.

People can criticize signing players like Taylor and Clarke, but they're short term commitments and probably for little money.

I like what we are doing: Drafting well, developing and retaining good players that will commit to the system and the club. Look for good trades at a good price to top up and fill gaps in the roster.

[Aprilbr]

I agree with Ludwig but I am anxiously waiting for good news on re-signing some soon to be out of contract players like Dawson, Stephens and Hewitt.

Looking ahead, we clearly lack a strong key defender. This weakness is being ruthlessly exploited by our components in recent matches. Hawthorn last week were effectively blocking our defenders from helping out each other with a chop out. This left one-on-one contests for McCartin, Rampe and Fox on much bigger opponents. We saw the results.

In the short term, this deficiency means we need to play either Brand or Melican (when fit) and to work out a way tactically to reduce the blocks from our opponents. In the long term, we need to buy in or pick up in the draft a top line key defender. Imagine how much better we would look with a player like May? In the coming matches we play Port with Charlie Dixon and WCE with Kennedy. Tall ruckmen will also go forward to exploit this perceived weakness. Can we minimise their contested marks?

[Markwebbos]

I agree with Ludwig but I am anxiously waiting for good news on re-signing some soon to be out of contract players like Dawson, Stephens and Hewitt.

Looking ahead, we clearly lack a strong key defender. This weakness is being ruthlessly exploited by our components in recent matches. Hawthorn last week were effectively blocking our defenders from helping out each other with a chop out. This left one-on-one contests for McCartin, Rampe and Fox on much bigger opponents. We saw the results.

In the short term, this deficiency means we need to play either Brand or Melican (when fit) and to work out a way tactically to reduce the blocks from our opponents. In the long term, we need to buy in or pick up in the draft a top line key defender. Imagine how much better we would look with a player like May? In the coming matches we play Port with Charlie Dixon and WCE with Kennedy. Tall ruckmen will also go forward to exploit this perceived weakness. Can we minimise their contested marks?

Some of that blocking was pretty blatant. I assume Horse will be having coffees with Gil Etc over the bye to discuss.

[barry]

Happy for Kelly to exercise his rights in the GWS contract he holds - 8 years at $1mill/year, nice anchor for their cap

Interesting for GWS. He's a $750k a year player, so keep him and pay overs, or let him go and use draft picks for a rebuild. Depends on where they see they are at (in the zone, or in rebuild).
I think GWS would be hoping he goes.

[707]

Twomey just posted a Ruck merry-go-round piece on the AFL website. Outlines contract status of every ruckman who is any chance of being targetted or moving.

[bandwagon]

Lynch is a great suggestion! Hayes I mentioned already. Ladhams (a) didn't want to come to the Swans last year; and (b) doubly won't want to leave Port to be a second fiddle, whereas last year he would have been offered the role that Hickey has now.

However Port cant play all of Lycett, Ladhams & Hayes at the same time, and most often have only one of them in the starting line up. So there is an opportunity to play more at the Swans straight away, with the strong prospect of being the top ruck in a year or two.
I do like the Lynch suggestion as a) it will stuff up Collingwood, and b) he looks an alright player.

[mcs]

Some interesting chatter on the Road to the draft about our salary cap position - still have 22 players out of contract according to them (No idea if it is right or not) - about 36 minutes in.

Road to the Draft trade special: Will Shai Bolton stay at Richmond?

[Ruck'n'Roll]

Twomey just posted a Ruck merry-go-round piece on the AFL website. Outlines contract status of every ruckman who is any chance of being targetted or moving.

Can't find it, can you share a link please?

[Ludwig]

We are in a tricky position regarding our ruck stocks. Oddly enough, the surprising success of Hickey is at the heart of the problem. He's shown that he's up there with the best 1st choice ruckmen in the comp. The downside being that he's 30 and has a knee that could fall off at any minute. Added to that, the career of our other potentially choice ruckman has realistically come to an end.

We can't promise a good young ruckman the 1st ruck spot unless we cut out Hickey. Do we commit to Hickey for the next few years to buy enough time to develop a replacement young ruckman, like McAndrew? Or do we go after a replacement now? I feel it's hard to go for a change now, given how well Hickey is doing and that he seems to be able to play without a PCL. It becomes a tricky medical issue. I wonder how Hickey passed our medical exam before he was recruited, btw. Is this the same medicos that passed Naismith fit enough to be given a contract extension?

We would be looking at someone in the 23 to 26 yo bracket, ready to play now and still has a good 7 or 8 years left.

My conclusion is that we can only entice a player who we can guarantee a spot in our forward line and backing up in the ruck. This hasn't changed much in the past 2 years, but 2 years ago it was Naismith as the choice ruckman and now it's Hickey.

I'm going to rule out Esava Ratugolea, because he's too similar to Amartey, so why not just stick with Amartey. Both are 197 cm and are essentially forward/rucks.

I'm ending in the same place as 2 years ago, with the 2 Richmond players, Chol and CCJ. I think Richmond can only keep 1, and they will probably want to keep CCJ. So it's back down to Mabior Chol once again. Funny how it hasn't really changed in 2 years for me. And it's not like I think Chol is the best thing since sliced bread. In fact, if he were better, he probably be out of our price range.

Looking past Franklin and Reid, I feel could play 2 forwards in McDonald, Chol and Amartey. If Hickey gets injured, or retires, we can probably do fine with a ruck combo of Chol and Amartey.

So Mabior Chol remains my target this year. We can drop both Naismith (forced retirement) and Sinclair at the end of the season.

[dejavoodoo44]

We are in a tricky position regarding our ruck stocks. Oddly enough, the surprising success of Hickey is at the heart of the problem. He's shown that he's up there with the best 1st choice ruckmen in the comp. The downside being that he's 30 and has a knee that could fall off at any minute. Added to that, the career of our other potentially choice ruckman has realistically come to an end.

We can't promise a good young ruckman the 1st ruck spot unless we cut out Hickey. Do we commit to Hickey for the next few years to buy enough time to develop a replacement young ruckman, like McAndrew? Or do we go after a replacement now? I feel it's hard to go for a change now, given how well Hickey is doing and that he seems to be able to play without a PCL. It becomes a tricky medical issue. I wonder how Hickey passed our medical exam before he was recruited, btw. Is this the same medicos that passed Naismith fit enough to be given a contract extension?

We would be looking at someone in the 23 to 26 yo bracket, ready to play now and still has a good 7 or 8 years left.

My conclusion is that we can only entice a player who we can guarantee a spot in our forward line and backing up in the ruck. This hasn't changed much in the past 2 years, but 2 years ago it was Naismith as the choice ruckman and now it's Hickey.

I'm going to rule out Esava Ratugolea, because he's too similar to Amartey, so why not just stick with Amartey. Both are 197 cm and are essentially forward/rucks.

I'm ending in the same place as 2 years ago, with the 2 Richmond players, Chol and CCJ. I think Richmond can only keep 1, and they will probably want to keep CCJ. So it's back down to Mabior Chol once again. Funny how it hasn't really changed in 2 years for me. And it's not like I think Chol is the best thing since sliced bread. In fact, if he were better, he probably be out of our price range.

Looking past Franklin and Reid, I feel could play 2 forwards in McDonald, Chol and Amartey. If Hickey gets injured, or retires, we can probably do fine with a ruck combo of Chol and Amartey.

So Mabior Chol remains my target this year. We can drop both Naismith (forced retirement) and Sinclair at the end of the season.

Although, of course; the search for a quality ruck division, has often been an arduous, bewildering and frustrating task.

ruck division 2.png

[Faunac8]

Previously it has been suggested and I agree that Lloyd Meek from the Dockers may be a potential recruiting target he’s 23 years old a solid unit ex North Ballarat ( we have picked up some reasonable recruits from there in the past ) not getting many games at AFL level but going alright in the WAFL and is kicking a few goals as well. Also out of contract at the end of this year.

Lloyd MEEK | WAFL

[stevoswan]

We are in a tricky position regarding our ruck stocks.

I'm ending in the same place as 2 years ago, with the 2 Richmond players, Chol and CCJ. I think Richmond can only keep 1, and they will probably want to keep CCJ. So it's back down to Mabior Chol once again. Funny how it hasn't really changed in 2 years for me. And it's not like I think Chol is the best thing since sliced bread. In fact, if he were better, he probably be out of our price range.

Looking past Franklin and Reid, I feel could play 2 forwards in McDonald, Chol and Amartey. If Hickey gets injured, or retires, we can probably do fine with a ruck combo of Chol and Amartey.

So Mabior Chol remains my target this year. We can drop both Naismith (forced retirement) and Sinclair at the end of the season.

I've been keeping an eye on Chol when he's on free TV and his trajectory is up and improving every week. Even though Richmond aren't winning all the time, I'm not sure they're missing Nanka too much atm. He'll walk straight back in when fit leaving Chol again wondering, do I have a future here? I agree we should go hard on Chol (no 'woody' jokes please!).

[Markwebbos]

Ludwig, as the Socrates of Seven-footers, the Hegel of Hit-outs, our very own Bertrand Russell of Rucking, I really do appreciate your philosophical treatises. And I agree with much of what you say.

Given that this is a development year, albeit one that we hope will include finals, surely we should play Amartey for the rest of the year to see how much he develops. He does appear to have a lot of upside.

Assuming we need a minimum of 3 AFL ready rucks on our list (plus one or two in the oven), I would think Chol or CCJ would both be excellent choices, particularly if we can, as you suggest play two rucks as forwards.

That does leave questions about the future of Sam-rarelyfit-Reid, who has been wonderful as a forward/ruck this year, when he's actually played... I wonder if we can put him on a low base, high incentive deal next year?

[Ludwig]

Ludwig, as the Socrates of Seven-footers, the Hegel of Hit-outs, our very own Bertrand Russell of Rucking, I really do appreciate your philosophical treatises. And I agree with much of what you say.

Given that this is a development year, albeit one that we hope will include finals, surely we should play Amartey for the rest of the year to see how much he develops. He does appear to have a lot of upside.

Pleased that you are an adherent of my dialectic ruckilianism.

Amartey has the talent, but will that be enough? I was a long time waiting for the shoe to drop for Gary Rohan. It was a long wait. Maybe it's finally happened with Geelong. I hope it happens sooner for Joel.

If anyone can profit from emulating Buddy, it's Amartey. They're really quite similar. Amartey is Buddy without the swagger and competitiveness. I don't know if that's teachable.